Strafford County population, jobs on the rise

Monday

Jun 30, 2014 at 3:15 AM

By Morgan Palmermpalmer@fosters.com

STRAFFORD COUNTY — Populations and employment rates are on the rise in Strafford County, but homeownership rates have decreased and due to an increase of those in poverty, according to a newly released assessment.

The 2014 Strafford County Community Assessment, published by the Community Action Partnership of Strafford County, revealed the condition county in comparison to the rest of the state as well as the country.

“This report should be a resource to agencies and municipalities for improving health, education, and well-being in Strafford County as it serves as a comprehensive look at the area’s strengths, needs and resources,” said Betsey Andrews Parker, Executive Director.

According to the assessment, Strafford County, the smallest in land area among all the state’s counties, has a population that continues to grow at a rate that is slightly higher than the rest of the state. More than half of the counties residents live in Dover, Durham, or Rochester. Furthermore, the county has seen a 9.86 percent population increase from 2000 to 2012, which correlates to 11,062 people.

The assessment also states that Strafford County has a slightly younger population than the rest of the state, partly because of the 12,000 or so undergraduates at UNH who live in Durham or surrounding towns. Despite this, the population age is predicted to noticeably increase in the coming decades. This is because the number of young residents is projected to go down while the number of people over 60 will increase.

Strafford County, like the state in general, is predominantly white and non-Hispanic. Ethnic and racial minorities are mostly concentrated in the cities of Dover, Rochester, and Somersworth. Somersworth has also seen a trend of more diverse and racial minority populations. According to the assessment, Strafford County is 94.4 percent white. The assessment shows that .90 of the population in the county is African-American, 2 percent is mixed, and 2.71 percent is other races. 93.2 percent of the county speaks English only, 6.8 percent speaks a language other than English, and 2 percent speaks English “less than very well”.

By all measures, incomes in Strafford County are lower than New Hampshire overall, but greater than the national average. Income in this assessment incorporates all income, including earnings from work, unemployment compensation, workers’ compensation, Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, public assistance, veterans’ payments, pension or retirement income, educational assistance, alimony, child support, etc. The nationwide median household income in the past 12 months is $51,371. New Hampshire’s median household income is $63,157, with Strafford County $4,619 below at $58,538.

In the past decade, there have been significant increases in the number of high and low income households, which has produced a large increase, more than 50 percent, in the number of people living in poverty.

“It is important to note that income varies significantly by town within Strafford County. The wealthiest towns of Strafford, Madbury, Barrington, New Durham, Lee and Durham show incomes of greater than $70,000, and the least wealthy towns of Rochester, Somersworth, Farmington, Middleton and Dover demonstrate incomes less than $60,000,” the assessment reads.

Residents who live in what is called a “Head Start or Early Head Start target area” have a lower household income compared to the state and other areas within Strafford County. These target areas are focused, but not limited to, the towns of Somersworth, Rochester, Farmington, Dover, Milton (covering Middleton), and Rollinsford. Based on these lower incomes, these towns continue to be the most in need of services.

A 2012 poverty estimate showed a total of 14,744 residents living below the federal poverty rate in Strafford County. This has nearly doubled in the last 12 years, and the poverty rate in Strafford County has grown faster than the rest of the state. In 2000, there were 7,771 residents were living in poverty in Strafford County. This was 7.1 percent of the population. In 12 years, this number has jumped to 14,744, 12.8 percent of the population. The change in poverty rate for the county is 12.8, while the national increase is only 4.6 percent. 58.77 percent of these households living in poverty were female householders. 30.75 percent were married couples, and only 10.48 percent were male householders.

Strafford County residents have lower home-ownership rates than other NH counties, and pay a higher percentage of their income in rent. Residents are more likely to have moved in the last year, and are more likely to depend on higher-cost home heating sources of oil and electricity. These factors are frequently cited as the causes of family homelessness. This has also been cited as one of the county’s top concerns, as the number of homeless residents consistently exceeds available shelter space.

Despite the rising rates of poverty, Strafford County employment rates have remained above the national and state averages through the recent recession, and have climbed every year for the past five years. In December 2013, there were an estimated 3,006 unemployed Strafford County residents, or 4.3 percent of the workforce. This is a significant drop from December 2009, when the county’s rate was at 6 percent. The state average is 4.8 percent, and the national average is 6.5 percent. The assessment shows that 40 percent of the county’s residents travel to get to their workplace, and less than 2 percent rely on public transportation to get to work. There are approximately 3,000 households in the county without a vehicle.

Educational attainment and the completion of high school show Strafford County above the national average, but below the state average. The highest rates of educational attainment are concentrated in the Southern communities bordering UNH, while the highest dropout rates are in the Northern communities. High school dropout rates in Farmington and Milton are 2-3 times higher than the rest of the state. Despite this, a large percent of the county’s residents are high school graduates or higher, at 90.90 percent. The national average is 85.7 percent.

“The overall picture of Strafford County appears stable and positive with relatively strong employment, growth, and education. However, behind the average numbers and countywide statistics, there is a less appealing picture for many,” Susan Geier, Community Services and Outreach Director at the Community Action Partnership of Strafford County, said in a press release. “The disparity between communities, and the gaps between the poorest and wealthiest within the county, is striking. For CAP, this assessment will be one tool in our tool box to address community needs, assess programs, and create a road map for change.”

To view the full assessment visit www.straffordcap.org/news/publications.